Nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system

Abstract

A nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system. The flow control assembly is coupled to a nuclear fission module capable of producing a traveling burn wave at a location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly controls flow of a fluid in response to the location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly comprises a flow regulator subassembly configured to be operated according to an operating parameter associated with the nuclear fission module. In addition, the flow regulator subassembly is reconfigurable according to a predetermined input to the flow regulator subassembly. Moreover, the flow control assembly comprises a carriage subassembly coupled to the flow regulator subassembly for adjusting the flow regulator subassembly to vary fluid flow into the nuclear fission module.

1 - 133 . (canceled) 
     
     
         134 . For use in a nuclear fission reactor, a flow control assembly system, comprising:
 a flow regulator subassembly, said flow regulator subassembly including:
 a first sleeve having a first hole; 
 a second sleeve configured to be inserted into said first sleeve, said second sleeve having a second hole alignable with the first hole, said first sleeve being configured to rotate for axially translating the first hole into alignment with the second hole; and 
   a carriage subassembly configured to be coupled to said flow regulator subassembly.   
     
     
         135 . For use in a nuclear fission reactor, a flow control assembly system configured to be connected to a nuclear fission fuel assembly, comprising an adjustable flow regulator subassembly configured to be disposed in a fluid stream. 
     
     
         136 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 135 , wherein said adjustable flow regulator subassembly comprises:
 a first sleeve having a first hole; and   a second sleeve configured to be inserted into said first sleeve, said second sleeve having a second hole, the first hole being alignable with the second hole, whereby an amount of the fluid stream flows through the first hole and the second hole as the first hole aligns with the second hole.   
     
     
         137 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 136 , wherein said first sleeve is configured to be axially translated relative to said second sleeve for aligning the second hole with the first hole. 
     
     
         138 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 135 , wherein said flow control assembly further comprises a carriage subassembly coupled to said adjustable flow regulator subassembly for adjusting said adjustable flow regulator subassembly. 
     
     
         139 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 138 , wherein said carriage subassembly is driven by a lead screw arrangement. 
     
     
         140 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 138 , wherein said carriage subassembly is driven by a reversible motor arrangement. 
     
     
         141 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 140 , wherein said carriage subassembly is at least partially controlled by a radio transmitter-receiver arrangement operating said reversible motor arrangement. 
     
     
         142 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 140 , wherein said carriage subassembly is at least partially controlled by a fiber optic transmitter-receiver arrangement operating said reversible motor arrangement. 
     
     
         143 . For use in a nuclear fission reactor, a flow control assembly system couplable to a selected one of a plurality of nuclear fission fuel assemblies disposed in the nuclear fission reactor, comprising:
 an adjustable flow regulator subassembly for controlling flow of a fluid stream flowing through the selected one of the plurality of nuclear fission fuel assemblies, said adjustable flow regulator subassembly including:
 an outer sleeve having a plurality of first holes; 
 an inner sleeve inserted into said outer sleeve, said inner sleeve having a plurality of second holes, the first holes being progressively alignable with the second holes for defining a variable flow area, whereby a variable amount of the fluid stream flows through the first holes and the second holes as the first holes and the second holes progressively align to define the variable flow area; and 
   a carriage subassembly coupled to said adjustable flow regulator subassembly for adjusting said adjustable flow regulator subassembly.   
     
     
         144 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 143 ,
 wherein said outer sleeve is generally cylindrical and rotatable; and   wherein said inner sleeve is generally cylindrical.   
     
     
         145 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 143 , wherein said carriage subassembly is driven by a lead screw arrangement for rotatably engaging said outer sleeve. 
     
     
         146 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 143 , wherein said carriage subassembly is driven by a reversible motor arrangement for rotatably engaging said outer sleeve. 
     
     
         147 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 146 , wherein said carriage subassembly is at least partially controlled by a radio transmitter-receiver arrangement operating said reversible motor arrangement for rotatably engaging said outer sleeve. 
     
     
         148 . The flow control assembly system of  claim 147 , wherein said carriage subassembly is at least partially controlled by a fiber optic transmitter-receiver arrangement operating said reversible motor arrangement.